25 Years Serving the Local Community Mayfield Matter s Mayfield Community Training Centre FREE COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER, HIGHLIGHTING LOCAL NEWS St. Joseph’s Community Association ISSUE 64: Oct/Nov 2012 On 6th November, Mayfield Community Training Centre had an open day to celebrate 25 years of serv- Mayfield Banks Respond to Community Fears We return to the story of the two impending Bank closures planned for Mayfield. There is a palpable disappointment and resentment in the air all around the locality at the decisions taken by senior management at PTSB and AIB in this regard. Given the massive debts run up by our Banks during the “Celtic Tiger” years, these closures are not unexpected, though neither are they desirable. When Mayfield Matters contacted the Permanent Trustee Savings Bank (PTSB) for a comment, we were re-directed to its website. This offered nothing by way of apology to us in Mayfield, and indeed, lest we think that our branch is the only one for the chop, there will be fifteen other closures nationwide as well. Its version of good news is that; “There will be absolutely no change to your existing account(s) and all your account details will stay exactly the same”. If you have a PTSB account in Mayfield, you are directed to go to its North Main Street branch now, apparently for your convenience. The Credit Unions The picture with AIB is much clearer. Its local manager stressed that AIB has been building close links with the Post Office network for several years, seeking to share elements of its services with An Post. We understand that at the time of going to press, one of our two Post Offices, either on Kerry Road or in Montenotte, will be enabled to offer many AIB services through their branches. And lest we forget, our two Credit Unions in Mayfield also provide many financial services to the area including, PayPoint bill payments, Cork City Council rent payments, quicklodge, foreign exchange facilities, incoming payments by direct debit, money advice and budgeting service, travel insurance and death benefit insurance. There is, most likely, a branch within easy reach of you and Credit Unions may offer many benefits over the “Main Banks”, not least because they are “not for profit”. Management and staff at Our Lady Crowned Credit Union and St. Joseph’s Credit Union, would be happy to discuss your financial needs with you at any time. An Post We spoke to Mr Frank Curtin, Operations Manager for An Post in the south, who assured us that An Post is willing and eager to assist AIB customers in every way possible. Work is under way “To allow AIB customers in the vicinity of closed branches to lodge cheques, in addition to lodging and withdrawing cash using AIB debit/ATM cards and to make payments to AIB credit card accounts six days a week” at their local Post Office. But while AIB and An Post are striving to make the forthcoming closure as painless as possible, it appears that PTSB is not talking to the Post Office. So, the advice again from PTSB is to get yourself down to North Main Street (at your own expense for what appears to be its convenience). (Continued on page 2.) Mayfield Matters is staffed by a dedicated team of volunteers who contribute to the NewsletterMayfield Matters in all the is staffedvarious by stages a dedicated of production. team of Allvolunteers contributors who contributewho write tofor the the NewsletterNewsletter do in soall on the a variousvoluntary stages basis. of production.Mayfield Matters All contributors operates independently who write for and the is Newsletterentirely Mattersdo so on is a staffedvoluntary by abasis. dedicated Mayfield team Mattersof volunteers operates who independently contribute to andthe is Newsletter in all the various stages ofentirely Matters self is staffed-funded. by a dedicated team of volunteers who contribute to the Newsletter in all the various stages of production. All contributors who write for the Mayfield Banks Respond to Community Fears (Cont’d) And so, we have a tale of two banks. In reality, banking for the individual has changed over the years and most people today use ATM’s for access to cash, rather than visiting their local bank teller. In the Mayfield area, we are well served by these in the supermarkets and garages and although the machine outside the existing PTSB will most probably be taken out of service, we can expect a new ATM machine to appear in, or near, a Post Office instead. Accounts already in either bank will remain the same and be honoured in the city branches and standing orders will remain unchanged. Your chequebook continues as before and any loans outstanding are also applicable as before. In the wider context, the news is mixed and confused. AIB assures us that none of the workers in its Mayfield branch will lose their jobs as a result of the closure, while the PTSB website offers no assurances in this matter, one way or the other. When both venerable institutions have de-camped from amongst us, what will become of their premises? We know from experience elsewhere that commercial property situated in residential areas, can run to seed very quickly when un-occupied and attract anti-social behaviour in its vicinity. It is our belief that both banks have operated profitable businesses here on the backs of the people of Mayfield for many years and have a moral responsibility to the neighbourhood now, to ensure they do not leave a mess in their wake. After all, people are pretty tired of cleaning up after the banks as it is. YOGA Andy Gibson Photography Providing Quality, Creativity Learn to exercise the power of your mind with the unique Raja Yoga combined with Hatha Yoga which and Service exercises and tones the body whilst bringing the glands back into balance. Weddings, Portraits, Communions, The six week course includes: Breathing Confirmations, Graduations, Debs, Posture Landscapes, Photo-Journalism, Events, Nutrition Commercial etc. Relaxation Meditation All photographic work undertaken The course commences on Wednesday 17th October and runs from 7:30pm to 8:45pm at St. Joseph’s at very competitive prices Community Centre, Old Youghal Road, Mayfield. Course Fee is: €75 For more information call Andy on: 086 738 8863 Contact: SANDRA on: 087 940 0510 Mayfield CDP Community Resource Centre, 328 Old Youghal Road, Mayfield. Telephone: 021 450 8562 Mayfield CDP would like to thank the Mayfield Community Gardeners for helping to organise the launch of the garden by the Lord Mayor, Cllr. John Buttimer which took place recently. The garden is open to all in the Community and the group is always looking for volunteers to help. The group has access to a professional gardener, Mr. Denis Murphy, every second Wednesday morning. Denis’s position is funded by the City of Cork VEC. Some members from the Youth Training Workshop in Mayfield, including their leader, Val, also helped prepare the garden for the opening. We would like to thank the Cork City Council who gave a grant of €750 towards the cost of equipment, etc. We would also like to thank Aisling Services for keeping the grass looking so well maintained and the Tús worker who built the wall in order that we could hang the side gate. Thanks also to our Local Councillor John Kelleher and our Community Garda SGT. John O’ Connor for attending the launch. Finally, we cannot finish this piece without saying a big thank you to Michael O’ Donnell, a founder member of the gardening group. The CDP Management and Staff would like to thank Glen Walsh who was on student placement with the Resource Office from the beginning of June to the end of July this summer gone. Glen came from the National Learning Network and he worked here on a specific project. He was asked to update our Local Community Directory; he did this with great vigour and kindness to all involved. This directory is a great form of information for houses, businesses and workers in Mayfield. There is now a need for a new directory and we are actively seeking sponsors to assist us in this regard. Mayfield Action On Suicide helped in the local clean-up of part of the Old Youghal Road, which took place recently. The group has been asked to do a clean-up in the area of Our Lady Crowned Church on Saturday 6th October as the Sunday Mass on Sunday 7th October will be televised as part of the 50th Anniversary Celebration. Mayfield CDP is planning to hold historic walks of the Mayfield area. We are bringing in the expertise of local man, Joe Mullane, to help us with this new venture. We would then hope to be able to offer these walks to local walking groups and schools. Anyone wishing to help with organising these local events or to give us information, please contact Patricia on: 021 450 8562. At the Community Education Network Meeting which was held in the Mayfield CDP, we were taking names for the new proposed Drama Group for adults. The Mayfield Camera Club is meeting in the Mayfield CDP premises and this group is open to all in the community. Maureen Considine facilitates this group. The group meets on the first Monday evening of every month. Contact Mayfield CDP for more information. Rainbow Sessional Childcare is based in Mayfield CDP. It takes care of 8 children in the morning session and 8 children in the afternoon session at very competitive rates. Helena Ross is the Manager, so please contact her for more information on: 021 450 8562.